Dec 4, 2017 - Denman Island Conservation Covenant Protects Butterfly Habitat

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Protecting Canada’s Islands in the Salish Sea 
News Release  
200-1627 Fort Street, Victoria, BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone: 250-405-5186   Fax: 250-405-5155 
Toll-free via Service BC 1 800-663-7867 or in Vancouver 604-660-2421 
itfmail@islandstrust.bc.ca     www.IslandsTrustFund.bc.ca 
2017-12-ITF 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
Denman Island Conservation Covenant Protects Butterfly Habitat 
Critical habitat for federally endangered Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly is now permanently protected 
 
Denman Island, British Columbia, December 4, 2017   A new voluntary legal covenant between the Islands Trust 
Fund and the Denman Conservancy Association protects the rich and diverse forest, meadow and wetland habitats of 
the Settlement Lands on Denman Island.   
 
The Settlement Lands Covenant protects 64 hectares (157 acres) of large old Douglas-firs, marshy wetlands and 
breeding habitat for the federally endangered Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly. Taylor’s Checkerspot butterflies are 
extremely rare. Following 2001-2003 surveys, scientists thought this species was lost from the Canadian landscape 
forever. However, in 2005, they were found on Denman Island where they continue to live and breed. Taylor’s 
Checkerspot butterflies require both nectar plants for food and suitable wetland habitat for breeding. An area of the 
Settlement Lands where both requirements are met will be managed to maintain open sunny areas for nectar plants 
and suitable breeding habitat.  
 
The Denman Conservancy Association acquired the Settlement Lands in 2006 as part of the settlement of a legal case. 
In addition to providing habitat for Taylor’s Checkerspot, these lands connect to other protected areas, including the 
Denman Island Provincial Park, and the Islands Trust Fund’s Inner Island Nature Reserve and Winter Wren Wood 
Covenant.  The Islands Trust Fund and Denman Conservancy Association have developed a comprehensive 
management plan to guide the care of this special place.  
 
“It is amazing that the last remaining known Taylor’s Checkerspot breeding location in Canada is on our doorstep on 
Denman Island,” said Tony Law, Chair of the Trust Fund Board. “We congratulate the Denman Conservancy Association 
for their work conserving and restoring these lands and strengthening that commitment with a voluntary conservation 
covenant. We look forward to working with them to ensure this special place remains protected forever.”  
 
To learn more about protected places on Denman Island, visit http://islandstrustfund.bc.ca/protected-places.aspx.  
 
The Islands Trust Fund is the conservation land trust for Canada's islands in the Salish Sea. Since 1990, the Islands Trust 
Fund has protected more than 1,250 hectares and helped partners protect another 330 hectares of island ecosystems. 
 
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MEDIA CONTACTS 
Jennifer Eliason, Manager       Tony Law, Chair 
Islands Trust Fund       Trust Fund Board 
250-405-5191 jeliason@islandstrust.bc.ca     250-335-1155    t

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